Rise, Heal, and Grow Podcast with
Leah M. Hill

Join Leah M. Hill on this inspiring episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow as she sits down with Nancy Gardella, a tourism and destination development leader with more than 20 years of experience helping people discover the power of travel, connection, and curiosity. From childhood road trips across the country in a Winnebago to a life-changing exchange semester in France and leading tourism initiatives across Massachusetts, Nancy shares how exploration can transform not only how we see the world, but how we see ourselves. Together, Leah and Nancy dive into the deeper impact of tourism—how welcoming visitors strengthens communities, fuels local economies, supports wellness, and creates meaningful human connections that last a lifetime. They also explore the stories, history, and experiences that make North of Boston a destination filled with discovery, reminding us that sometimes growth begins the moment we step outside what’s familiar and embrace curiosity, adventure, and connection.

Jennifer Gilligan, founder of Cove Aesthetics and Care, joins Leah M. Hill on Rise, Heal, and Grow for a powerful conversation about healing from the inside out. With more than 30 years in healthcare and a deep passion for root-cause medicine, hormone optimization, spirituality, and patient advocacy, Jennifer shares her journey from an unhealthy childhood environment to becoming a respected Nurse Practitioner and integrative wellness leader. Together, Leah and Jennifer explore the failures of today’s “sick care” system, the importance of self-advocacy, the connection between emotional and physical healing, and how true wellness begins when we reconnect with ourselves. This episode is an empowering reminder that healing is possible, wholeness matters, and it’s never too late to become the best version of yourself.

On this deeply inspiring episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow, Leah M. Hill sits down with spiritual teacher, performer, and healer Donnadia Lowre of You Are A Soul Song for a heartfelt conversation about self-discovery, unconditional love, healing, and spiritual transformation. From mystical experiences in childhood to years of studying diverse spiritual traditions, music, movement, meditation, and ministry, Donnadia shares how every chapter of her life has guided her toward helping others reconnect with their inner light. Together, Leah and Donnadia explore what it means to be a “Soul Song,” the power of joy and vibration in healing, the connection between mind, body, and spirit, and why now more than ever people need to remember they are worthy, loved, and enough exactly as they are.

In this soulful and grounding episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow with Leah M. Hill, Leah sits down with Giovanna Chaisson, founder of Art Experienced, to explore the transformative power of slowing down. After a 25-year career rooted in achievement and constant motion, Giovanna shares how a simple moment with her young daughter led her to rediscover creativity—and ultimately, herself. Together, they dive into the concept of “the magic in the pause,” unpacking how true clarity, healing, and growth often come not from doing more, but from creating space to listen. Giovanna opens up about her journey of reconnection, the role creativity plays in self-discovery, and how she now helps others step out of autopilot and into presence through immersive art experiences. This episode is a powerful reminder that you already have everything you need within you—you just have to pause long enough to hear it.

In this episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow, Leah M. Hill sits down with image consultant and author Ginger Burr, founder of Total Image Consultants, to explore the powerful connection between inner beauty and personal style. With nearly four decades of experience, Ginger shares how clothing can become a meaningful form of self-expression—even during life’s most challenging seasons. Together, they dive into the emotional weight many women carry around their appearance, the overwhelm of a closet full of clothes with nothing to wear, and the evolving relationship with style as we age. Ginger offers practical, compassionate guidance to help women reconnect with who they are, simplify their wardrobes, and feel confident showing up authentically in the world. This conversation is a reminder that style isn’t about perfection—it’s about alignment, self-trust, and honoring the woman you are today.

In this powerful episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow, Leah M. Hill sits down with emotional transformation specialist April Adams to explore why so many people stay stuck in the same emotional patterns—despite years of therapy, self-help, and personal growth work. April shares how working directly with the subconscious mind can rapidly dissolve triggers in minutes, not months, and explains what’s really happening beneath the surface when we overreact, ruminate, or feel unable to change. Through real-life examples and eye-opening insights, this conversation challenges the belief that healing has to be slow and difficult—and offers a new path toward lasting emotional freedom, clarity, and what April calls “peace on autopilot.”

In this powerful episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow, Leah M. Hill sits down with author, speaker, and recovery advocate Derek Palosaari to explore a raw and inspiring journey from addiction to lasting transformation. Derek opens up about his early struggles with drugs and alcohol, hitting rock bottom at 31, and the humbling path of rebuilding his life through sobriety, faith, and radical honesty. Together, they dive into the realities of mental health, the pressure men face to suppress emotion, and why vulnerability is actually a gateway to strength and healing. With hard-earned wisdom and real-life perspective, Derek shares how desperation became a turning point, why we can’t heal alone, and how everyday choices—rooted in integrity and service—can lead to lasting peace and purpose. This conversation is a reminder that no matter how far you’ve fallen, change is possible, and you are never alone.

In this episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow, Leah M. Hill sits down with Susan Baracco, founder of Story Architect for Women, to explore the transformative power of storytelling. With over a decade of experience collaborating on more than 30 books, Susan shares how writing can become a pathway to healing, self-discovery, and personal empowerment—especially for women who have long held their stories inside. Together, they discuss the fears that keep people from starting, the emotional release that comes from putting truth on the page, and the unexpected lessons no one tells you about writing a book. Through heartfelt insights and practical guidance, this conversation invites listeners to embrace their voice, trust the process, and discover that even one sentence a day can open the door to profound growth and lasting impact.

In this expansive and soul‑stirring episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow with Leah M. Hill, Leah sits down with Akashic Record Healer and Soul Activator Sarah Stray, founder of Boxless Coaching, to explore what it truly means to awaken inner wisdom and step into coherence with your Soul. Sarah shares how she came to recognize and follow the call of the Akashic Records after more than 20 years in the nonprofit world, despite having no formal spiritual training. Together, they explore the Akashic Records as a living energetic field that helps illuminate and release ancestral patterns, karmic blocks, and hidden programming. They dive into the “Soul Expansion Gap,” that disorienting in‑between phase where discontent and fear can cloud deeper desire, and offer grounded insight on navigating life’s transitions with trust, clarity, and self‑alignment. This conversation invites listeners into a new understanding of transformation — one rooted in inner truth, coherence, and the natural reorganization that unfolds when we reconnect with our Soul.

On this episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow with Leah M. Hill, Leah sits down with Liz DiFiore, Community Engagement Manager at BevCam, for a powerful conversation about courage, connection, and the impact of community storytelling. Liz shares her unconventional career journey—from children’s book illustration to community media—and unpacks why meaningful relationships are at the heart of every successful business and thriving community. Together, Leah and Liz explore why courage must come before confidence, how networking is a learned skill anyone can develop, and why access to unbiased, local media matters now more than ever. This episode is an inspiring reminder that when people are given the tools, education, and access to tell their own stories, entire communities rise, heal, and grow together.

Today’s guest is Leslie Saba, a Certified Positive Intelligence® coach who believes that staying quiet to keep the peace is one of the fastest ways to lose connection in a relationship. For decades, Leslie lived what so many women experience—holding things in, avoiding conflict, and carrying the quiet emotional weight of unspoken needs. On the outside, everything looked fine, but inside there was tension, disconnection, and a heaviness she couldn’t ignore. After learning the communication and mental fitness skills that transformed her own relationships, Leslie now helps high-functioning women express themselves with clarity and confidence—without guilt or fear—so they can feel calm, respected, and deeply connected again. Leslie, what have you found is the real cost for women who keep things in to avoid conflict? And can you help us understand—what is emotional weight?